Sending My First Query Batch and First Rejection || Querying Journey

[@MeredithPhillipsWrites]

Okay, the frantic anxious energy in psyching yourself up to click Send was too real 😅 But CONGRATULATIONS on entering the trenches!!

[@madelinejameswrites]

😂 it was a bit of a rollercoaster for sure! And THANK YOU!!

[@chrisplatt6842]

Love that you filmed the moment you actually hit send! And psyching yourself up! Good luck with everything. Thanks for sharing

[@madelinejameswrites]

It was really fun to watch through again when I was editing! It helps to be able to talk through it even if its just to the camera!

[@OnefortheBooks]

Congratulations on your first rejection! I am loving following your process. I'm doing Camp Nano right now with my first draft.

[@madelinejameswrites]

Thank you! I'm quite proud of it. And that's very exciting! Do you plan on querying it when it's ready?

[@OnefortheBooks]

@@madelinejameswrites Yeah I think so! Might as well, I can always self-pub if no one bites? I think that's my strategy, but who knows what'll change between now and then.

[@maevemorgan]

Love these Querying Journey videos, they are so inspiring and motivating!

[@madelinejameswrites]

Awww I'm so glad!!

[@akossiwak]

Congratulations!!! Good luck and remember to breathe!

[@madelinejameswrites]

Yes! Absolutely ☺️

[@christinabriggs1782]

I'm in the query trenches as well and nervous. I felt everything you did as well. So nerve-wracking. I'm praying to hear at least 1 yes for my children's book but prepared for the rejections. I think.

[@madelinejameswrites]

It's a really hard journey, I'll have my fingers crossed for you! I just keep reminding myself that I just have to keep getting better and working to improve my craft and I'll get there eventually, even if it's not this book.

[@christinabriggs1782]

@@madelinejameswrites I agree. I believe that for us both. I love your content. Keep it going and never give up writing. 👍😁

[@christiep04]

I’ve always heard that speculative stuff over 120k can be a hard for agents to take on if it’s adult so some auto-reject above that (I think over 100k for YA? But I’m not sure). I think it’s something to do with printing presses since the panini and the printing costs going up since? But I could be wrong. Regardless, I hope querying is still going well and agents take a chance on it (whether it’s higher word count than that or not)!

[@madelinejameswrites]

Yeah I think it's a general investment thing too. Like it costs a lot more money to edit/format/print a book in general, so it's probably riskier. Printing press costs going up probably makes that even more significant... and thank you! My next few projects will definitely be a more attractive word count for querying haha

[@nildam.bonilla5849]

Hey, if all else fails self publish it, I am writing mine completely sure I'll self publish it as it quickly turned into a series😅 and I would like for all to be out and not to play with the possibility of it getting shut down❤

[@madelinejameswrites]

Yeah I think if I get to the point where I'm confident that I'm happy with my skill level but haven't gotten an agent I will do another updated pass on all my shelves books and then start self publishing! I just really don't think I have time to do all the self publishing stuff AND write with little kids and a full time job... But we shall see where life takes me!

[@NicoleWilbur]

Oooohh well done on getting in there!! I've never heard the "use a different email" advice before! What's the reasoning behind that?

[@madelinejameswrites]

Mostly so that you aren't getting super stressed every time you have a new email because you can set the query one to no notifications so you just check it when you're ready!

[@NicoleWilbur]

@@madelinejameswrites Ahh that makes sense!!

[@EmmaBennetAuthor]

Wouldn't it be so great if agents and publishers could just agree on a standard format for submissions!

[@madelinejameswrites]

Ugh that would be great!

[@OnefortheBooks]

Can I ask what your word count is on the draft you're submitting? Just curious since that was the reason for your first rejection.

[@madelinejameswrites]

Of course! 134K - definitely reasonable for epic fantasy but kind of a lot for regular fantasy or a debut

[@OnefortheBooks]

@madelinejameswrites oh yeah I wouldn't have thought that was too long! Good to know